Opinion is divided on whether King Charles, the monarch of the UK, should proceed with his state visit to Washington DC, or cancel the trip in the wake of the breakout of the Middle East war
04:43, 25 Mar 2026Updated 05:17, 25 Mar 2026
King Charles carried out engagements in Cornwall on Tuesday(Image: William Dax / SWNS)
Charismatic King Charles should go ahead with his state visit to the US — because Donald Trump wouldn’t ever be rude to him, an expert has claimed.
The monarch will be able to persuade the US leader “to do things that might not be possible otherwise,” according to historian and royal biographer Andrew Lownie. He suggested this could mean Charles would be able to convince Mr Trump to release the full, unredacted Jeffrey Epstein files, which would be admissible in any potential court proceedings.
Efforts by authorities and politicians, including Thames Valley Police and the Metropolitan Police, for the US to make these unredacted documents have, seemingly, hit brick walls despite public pressure. Reflecting on this, Mr Lownie said: “He (Mr Trump) can be rude to Keir Starmer, but I don’t think he’s going to be rude to the King.”
Investigations into figures connected to Epstein’s network, including Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and former US Ambassador Peter Mandelson, continue. However, it is thought the complete unredacted files would add leverage to any probes. Both Mr Mountbatten-Windsor and Lord Mandelson deny any wrongdoing.
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Donald Trump was rude about Keir Starmer last week – but soon must host King Charles(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
Mr Lownie, author of Entitled, a biography of Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, told Newsweek: “I think Trump is a bully, and I think you stand up to him. I think the King might well be able to persuade him to do things that might not be possible otherwise.”
But the brazen US leader, 79, recently mocked Mr Starmer, saying he has made a “big mistake” in not helping clean up his mess in Iran. Asked if he wanted to see Mr Starmer replaced, Mr Trump would only say it was a matter for the British people, not for him.
It has created an uneasy backdrop with which King Charles and Queen Camilla are to set to visit Washington DC next month and, subsequently, some UK politicians have encouraged the monarch to scrap his plans. Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey said last week: “Keir Starmer should advise the King that the state visit to the US scheduled for April should be called off. At a time when Trump has launched an illegal war that is devastating the Middle East and pushing up energy bills for British families, it’s clear this visit should not go ahead.”
But Mr Lownie disagrees with these politicians, arguing the visit would allow the UK to “shame Trump” and help seek justice for Epstein’s victims. The royal author continued: “For the sake of justice, for the sake of the victims, these people do need to be held to account, but we all know how the DoJ (Department of Justice) has operated. This is the sort of soft power in which the monarchy can actually be very effective. They can shame Trump. It’s the old line, ‘When they go low, you go high,’ and I think he should go.”
Reports today claim Mr Trump has sent a 15-point peace plan to Iran in a bid to end the war. The plan is said to contain clauses surrounding Iran’s ballistic missile and nuclear programmes.